"What the hell is going on?" I asked, with panic in my voice. The last time something like this happened, I found out my boyfriend was having a baby with another girl. I could not handle anything else.

"Nothing, everything is good. Hunter just had to go take care of something." Cooper said.

"Quit the bullshit Cooper, what's wrong?" I said glaring at him.

"Relax, it's nothing; he'll be back. If he wants you to know, he can tell you when he comes back."

"Whatever!" I yelled. I got up, took my plate to the kitchen and then went to the living room to watch the football game. I heard my mom and dad ask everyone what was going on, but Cooper and Mason just told them everything was fine. I must have fallen asleep on the couch because I woke to Hunter rubbing my arm.

I sat up as soon as I saw his split lip and the welt on his cheek; obliviously he got into some kind of fight. "Oh my God Hunter, what happened? Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine, just had to go take care of something."

I reached out to touch his lip and he winced at first then kissed my finger. I stood up and pushed Hunter to sit on the couch. "I'll be right back." I disappeared into the kitchen to grab some ice. Mom looked over at me and asked if I was ok. I nodded my head to her and left the kitchen quickly.

"Here put this on your lip and cheek." I told him. His cheek was already turning black and blue.

"CC I'm fine really. Can we talk now?" Hunter asked, grabbing the ice from me and placing it on his lip.

"Yeah but not in here with everyone; let's go outside."

"It's raining."

"I need to get out of here." I told him. I really did not want to talk to him about us with the possibility of someone over hearing.

"Ok, let's go."

Hunter grabbed my hand, led me outside into the pouring rain and to his truck parked at the end of the driveway. He stopped walking when we reached his truck, looked from the ground to my lips and then he took a step closer to me, pushing me until my back was up against the cold wet truck. He reached up and cupped my face. "I'm done trying to stay away," he sighed then continued. "I can't do it anymore. I need you like my life depends on it." The rain was streaming down on us but right now, I did not care. "I just need you." He gently pulled my head to him and whispered, "I am going to kiss you now."

That is exactly what he did. I was tired of fighting my feelings for him, tired of being upset, just tired. That kiss was amazing; it had all the passion and longing we had been holding onto for so long. That is when the dam finally broke for me and I started crying. I knew right then that Hunter was the only one I wanted. He was my happily ever after.

15

All I could think about was Hunter's lips on mine. There was a tingly feeling that spread from my lips, down my chest and right between my legs. A deep growl came from Hunter; I knew he was feeling this too. He deepened the kiss; his tongue slipped in and found mine. I reached up and tangled my hands in his hair. I did not ever want this kiss to end. I was not sure what would happen when we broke apart. I would not be able to stop my heart from shattering if he said this was a mistake again. I did not care if our family was sitting in the house or not. I needed this kiss as if my life depended on it.

Hunter started to pull away but I tightened my hands in his hair, holding his head to me. I was so scared to pull away from him. He reached up, removed my hands and positioned them between us. He pulled back ever so slightly and caught my lower lip between his teeth. I whimpered. He rested his forehead against mine; we were both panting.

"You know," he said, chuckling, "We have a thing with kissing in the rain."

We were both soaked and I truly did not care, but then I remembered the cut on his lip.

"Oh god, I didn't hurt you did I?" I asked him, reaching up to run my thumb over his cut. God, what an idiot I am. That is why he was pulling away.

"It was worth it." He bent down and kissed me again. "I guess I'm forgiven for talking to that girl yesterday?"

"Yeah, I think you are, but just don't let it happen again." I said. "What happened to you?"

He pushed my bangs out of my face. "I got a text from Hailey telling me that she ran into a very drunk Dominic. He said he was on his way to talk to you. So, I had to stop him before he came over. Let's just say that he isn't going to be going anywhere for a while."

"Hunter, you shouldn't have done that." I was thankful that he handled Dominic but I did not want to see him like this.

"Yes, I should have. I couldn't have him come over here and throw himself at you, I can't handle that shit."

"KENZIE!" Mason yelled from the front door.

"Shit." Hunter said, stepping back from me.

"Get your ass in here. Mom wants you." Mason was glaring at us; I knew this was not going to go over well. I just hoped he would not make a scene with everyone here.

"Coming." I yelled back to him. "I guess we better get back inside." He reached in and grabbed his keys from his pocket. "I'll be back later; I'm going to run home and change. Tell my mom and Jay that I'll be back."

"Ok. See you in a little bit." I did not know what to do. Did I kiss him goodbye or just walk inside?

I did not have to wait long as Hunter grabbed both of my hands, entwined our fingers, pulled me closer to him and kissed me goodbye.

"You know, you can drag my ass out in the rain and kiss me anytime you want." I told him when we broke apart from our kiss.

Smirking at me, he said, "I'll have to remember that."

"Alright, see you in a little bit." I turned and walked back towards the house.

I ran up to my room and quickly changed and dried my hair.

Someone knocked on my door. I went over to it and opened it. Jaylinn was standing there with her hand on her hip and her eyebrows raised, frowning at me.

"Where did you run my brother off to?"

"He went home to change. He said to tell you he would be right back." I was trying not to smile at her.

"And why did he have to change?"

"Because we…"

She cut me off before I could answer her. "Wait, don't answer that. I don't even want to know."

I busted out laughing, I could not help it; I was on cloud nine from my kiss with Hunter. Jaylinn just shook her head at me.

"Well, I'm glad to finally see you laughing again and I'm glad it was Hunter that did it." Hailey said leaning against my doorframe.

"Well let's not get a head of ourselves. I still have to go downstairs and deal with my brothers." I pulled my hair up in a ponytail. "Alright, let's go face the music."